Inquest into Boden Umpherville's death hears conflicting testimony, family loses trust

Friends and family of Boden Umpherville say they have lost faith in the justice system after hearing conflicting testimony at a Prince Albert coroner's inquest. The proceedings on Thursday, the fourth day of the inquest, focused on the events leading to Umpherville's death following a police encounter involving tasers, batons, and pepper spray.

"Today was one of the worst days," said Chase Sinclair, a close friend of Umpherville. "It made me feel angry. It made me feel like there was no humanity left in anybody." Umpherville, 40, died in hospital weeks after being declared brain dead following a cardiac arrest. A forensic pathologist testified that his cardiac death was partly caused by an obstructed airway due to body positioning and drug use.

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Today was one of the worst days. It made me feel angry. It made me feel like there was no humanity left in anybody.

Police initially stopped the vehicle Umpherville was traveling in due to reports of it being stolen. While investigating, officers discovered warrants for Umpherville's arrest on drug charges and breach of release. Multiple officers stated Umpherville resisted arrest and appeared to be reaching for a gun. Some of Umpherville's family members have previously expressed feeling unsafe with police and first responders, and believe aspects of the inquest have favored the police.

During the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response (SIRT) investigation, Saskatoon Police Service Const. Michael Kot addressed the use of tasers. He stated officers fired 11 times, alongside warning arcs, during the struggle. SIRT firearms expert Michael Johnson confirmed a nine-millimetre handgun, believed to be Umpherville's, was recovered from the scene in a shoulder holster. Paramedics arriving on scene were reportedly told by police that Umpherville was aggressive and resisting arrest.

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They stated that the arc was a de-escalation tactic, but we’re human beings and we respond to words. So, we should just stop for a minute and maybe talk, and maybe it was just a simple conversation that could prevent all this.